1. Love is what changes us

    Comment

    Don’t try to change people, just love them. Love is what changes us. ~Unknown

    Our new toy we just got from the machine.

  2. In everything you do

    Comment

    Always take the lowest place. Wear simple clothes. Help other beings as much as you can. In everything you do, simply work at developing love and compassion until they have become a fundamental part of you. ~Patrul Rinpoche

  3. May no living creature suffer

    Comment

    May no living creature suffer,
    Commit evil or ever fall ill.
    May no one be afraid or belittled,
    With a mind weighed down by depression.

    ~Shantideva’s prayer

    lotus-in-water

  4. Relax at ease

    Comment

    This fresh present knowing,
    Unbound by the intellect that clings to meditation,
    Is naked unobstructed non-meditation.
    Relax at ease
    And settle in the state of naturalness.
    This is the meaning of realization of meditation.
    When thoughts move, let them.
    Movement arises and is liberated without a trace.
    When there is no movement, don’t search for it.
    This is empty luminosity, naked empty awareness.
    Tantric practice without suppression or cultivation of thoughts
    Brings the accomplishment of the destruction of hope and fear.
    There is nothing more to add to this.

    Dudjom Rinpoche
    From the book “Wisdom Nectar: Dudjom Rinpoche’s Heart Advice”

    Buddha meditating

     

     

  5. The mirror of eternity

    Comment

    Place your mind before the mirror of eternity,
    place your soul in the brightness of His glory,
    place your heart in the image of the divine essence
    and transform yourself by contemplation
    utterly into the image of His divinity,
    that you too may feel what His friends feel as they taste
    the hidden sweetness that God himself has set aside
    from the beginning for those who love Him.

    Casting aside all things in this false and troubled world
    that ensnare those who love them blindly,
    give all your love to Him who gave Himself in all
    for you to love:

    Whose beauty the sun and moon admire, and whose gifts
    are abundant and precious and grand without end.

    ~Saint Clare of Assisi

  6. Benefits of pain

    Comment

    Shantideva cites three benefits of pain. First, it is valuable because through sorrow, pride is driven out. No matter how arrogant and condescending we’ve been, great suffering can humble us. The pain of a serious illness or loss of a loved one can be transformative, softening us and making us less self-centered.

    The second benefit of pain is empathy: the compassion felt for those who wander in samsara. Our personal suffering brings compassion for others in the same situation. A young woman was telling me that when her baby died, she felt a deep connection to all the other parents who had lost children. This was, as she put it, the unexpected blessing of her sorrow.

    The third value of suffering is that evil is avoided and goodness seems delightful. When we practice according to Shantideva’s instructions, we can get smarter about cause and result. Based on this understanding, we’ll have less inclination to cause harm, and more desire to gather virtue and benefit others.

    Pema Chödron
    From the book “No Time to Lose: A Timely Guide to the Way of the Bodhisattva”

    Buddha and Devadatta

     

  7. Castles and crowded cities

    Comment

    canal103015

    Castles and crowded cities are the places
    Where now you love to stay;
    But remember that they will fall in ruins
    After you have departed from this earth.

    Pride and vainglory are the lure
    Which now you love to follow;
    But remember, when you are about to die
    They offer you no shelter and no refuge!

    Kinsmen and relatives are the people
    With whom now you love to live!
    But remember that you must leave them all behind
    When from this world you pass away!

    Servants, wealth, and children
    Are things that you love to hold;
    But remember, at the moment of your death
    Your empty hands can take nothing with you!

    Vigor and health are dearest to you now;
    But remember that at the moment of your death
    Your corpse will be bundled up and borne away!

    Now your organs are clear, your blood and flesh are strong and vigorous;
    But remember, at the moment of your death
    They will no longer be at your disposal!

    Sweet and delicious foods are things
    That now you love to eat;
    But remember, at the moment of your death
    Your mouth will let the spittle flow!

    When of all this I think, I cannot help
    But seek the Buddha’s teachings!
    The enjoyments and pleasures of this world,
    For me have no attraction.

    I, Milarepa, sing of the Eight Reminders,
    At the Guest House of Garakhache of Tsang.
    With these clear words I give this helpful warning;
    I urge you to observe and practice them!

    Milarepa
    from the book “The Hundred Thousand Songs Of Milarepa”

     

  8. The world always finds a way to praise and a way to blame

    Comment

    Buddha and King Bimbisara at Rajagaha City -  Ariyamagga

    Listen, Atula. This is not new,
    It is an old saying –

    “They blame you for being silent,
    They blame you when you talk too much
    And when you talk too little.”
    Whatever you do, they blame you.

    The world always finds
    A way to praise and a way to blame.
    It always has and it always will.

    But who dares blame the man
    Whom the wise continually praise,
    Whose life is virtuous and wise,
    Who shines like a coin of pure gold?

    Even the gods praise him.
    Even Brahma praises him.

    Beware of the anger of the body.
    Master the body.
    Let it serve truth.

    Beware of the anger of the mouth.
    Master your words.
    Let them serve truth.

    Beware of the anger of the mind.
    Master your thoughts.
    Let them serve truth.

    The wise have mastered
    Body, word and mind.

    They are the true masters.

    ~Dhammapada

     

  9. Gentleness…

    Comment

    With gentleness overcome anger.
    With generosity overcome meanness.
    With truth overcome deceit.

    ~Dhammapada

    lightbluecandles


Live & Die for Buddhism

candle

Khmer Tipitaka 1 – 110

 ព្រះត្រៃបិដក

ព្រះត្រៃបិដក ប្រែថា កញ្រ្ចែង ឬ ល្អី​ ៣ សម្រាប់ដាក់ផ្ទុកពាក្យពេចន៍នៃព្រះសម្មាសម្ពុទ្ធ

The Tipitaka or Pali canon, is the collection of primary Pali language texts which form the doctrinal foundation of Theravada Buddhism. The three divisions of the Tipitaka are: Vinaya Pitaka, Sutta Pitaka, Abhidhamma Pitaka.

Maha Ghosananda

Maha Ghosananda

Supreme Patriarch of Cambodian Buddhism (5/23/1913 - 3/12/07). Forever in my heart...

Samdech Chuon Nath

My reflection

វចនានុក្រមសម្តេចសង្ឃ ជួន ណាត
Desktop version

Listen to Khmer literature and Dhamma talk by His Holiness Jotannano Chuon Nath, Supreme Patriarch of Cambodia Buddhism.

Shantidevas’ Bodhisattva vows

My reflection

Should anyone wish to ridicule me and make me an object of jest and scorn why should I possibly care if I have dedicated myself to others?

Let them do as they wish with me so long as it does not harm them. May no one who encounters me ever have an insignificant contact.

Regardless whether those whom I meet respond towards me with anger or faith, may the mere fact of our meeting contribute to the fulfilment of their wishes.

May the slander, harm and all forms of abuse that anyone should direct towards me act as a cause of their enlightenment.

As a solid rock is not shaken by the wind, so the wise are not shaken by blame and praise. As a deep lake is clear and calm, so the wise become tranquil after they listened to the truth…

Good people walk on regardless of what happens to them. Good people do not babble on about their desires. Whether touched by happiness or by sorrow, the wise never appear elated or depressed. ~The Dhammapada

Hermit of Tbeng Mountain

Sachjang Phnom Tbeng សច្ចំ​​ ភ្នំត្បែង is a very long and interesting story written by Mr. Chhea Sokoan, read by Jendhamuni Sos. You can click on the links below to listen. Part 1 | Part 2

Beauty in nature

A beautiful object has no intrinsic quality that is good for the mind, nor an ugly object any intrinsic power to harm it. Beautiful and ugly are just projections of the mind. The ability to cause happiness or suffering is not a property of the outer object itself. For example, the sight of a particular individual can cause happiness to one person and suffering to another. It is the mind that attributes such qualities to the perceived object. — Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche

Nature is loved by what is best in us. The sky, the mountain, the tree, the animal, give us a delight in and for themselves. — Ralph Waldo Emerson

 

Our journey for peace
begins today and every day.
Each step is a prayer,
Each step is a meditation,
Each step will build a bridge.

—​​​ Maha Ghosananda